Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has opened up about the influence Lewis Hamilton had on him throughout their time together, revealing how the seven-time Formula 1 world champion helped reshape his approach to leadership and personal growth.

The Austrian discussed his relationship with Hamilton during an appearance at the Milken Institute Asia Summit, where he reflected on the importance of learning from mistakes and remaining willing to change, regardless of experience or success.

Wolff and Hamilton spent 12 seasons working alongside each other at Mercedes, building a partnership that produced six Drivers' World Championships between 2014 and 2020. Their success was also central to Mercedes' run of eight consecutive Constructors' titles from 2014 to 2021.

Hamilton arrived at the German manufacturer in 2013 after leaving McLaren, coinciding with Wolff's arrival in a senior management position. Their collaboration helped transform Mercedes into Formula 1's leading team, with the British driver becoming the most successful driver of his generation in terms of race victories.

However, their relationship was not defined exclusively by success. The pair also navigated challenging periods, including Hamilton's controversial defeat in the 2021 title decider and Mercedes' difficulties following the introduction of new technical regulations in 2022.

Their professional partnership eventually came to an end when Hamilton joined Ferrari ahead of the 2025 season, although Wolff has continued to acknowledge the impact the Briton had on him during their years together.

Photo: Race Pictures

Wolff reveals Hamilton's influence on his leadership

Wolff explained that Hamilton's determination to continually improve was something he came to admire and eventually adopted in his own professional life: "Something I learned from Lewis Hamilton; he has such a sense for perfection in a way that there is a constant feedback loop within him. How can I improve? Every single day."

The Mercedes team principal suggested that Hamilton's approach challenged the idea that people reach a stage in life where their personality and behaviour can no longer develop: "We know that you can never achieve perfection because also your targets change. But he's an adult and he's taught me that, contrary to what we think, we are not the end product."

According to Wolff, individuals frequently become accustomed to their own characteristics, believing that their strengths, weaknesses and methods of dealing with others are simply part of who they are: "We think, okay, we have strengths and weaknesses, we have our personality, this is how we act, we are either tyrants in our organization or we have an embracing kind of style."

Hamilton's example, however, encouraged Wolff to reconsider that mindset. The Austrian explained that acknowledging an error should be followed by a genuine effort to correct it, rather than treating certain behaviours as impossible to change: "He taught me that if you realise that you've taken the wrong decisions or maybe that you have acted in the wrong way, change. And if you're actively seeking to change, you will change."